A/N: Thank you for the positive feedback regarding the last chapter! I really appreciate it ;)
heydane: thank you for your review, I don't seem to get much critique to help me get better. I know the ages are off, they're supposed to be for the fic to make sense. To clarify, Gale is 16 in the first chapter, Rory is 10, Vick is 9, and Posy is 7. Also, Posy narrates the entire fic, sorry for the confusion about that :) Keep in mind that it's my first time writing publically and I could still use some practice.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 6
Previously:
I walk slowly over to the Peacekeeper's headquarters, my knees shaking with every step. Will he be there? I hope he will, so I can get the whole business over with.
Thankfully, I run into no one I know on my trip, and by the time I'm knocking on the heavy wooden door, I think that maybe, this won't be so bad. After all, he's offering money and the promise to keep my family safe. If I can keep my mind off of what I'll be doing, everything should be fine.
Due to another bout of good fortune (ironic at a time like this), Thread opens the door after the third knock, smiling so hideously that I'm forced to look away. He sneers at me as if he already know my answer.
I clear my throat and clasp my hands behind my back to stop them from shaking, and then I speak in the steadiest voice I can muster:
"We have a deal."
##
That night, I lie in bed, disgusted with myself. I had always imagined my first time as being special, with some handsome boy on our wedding night, maybe even Tre. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Thread coming into any of this. But that's the difference between life and dreams, isn't it? If you don't like your dream, you can always wake up.
On the mattress across the room, Gale shifts in his sleep and smiles, murmuring Madge's name. I found out from Mom that Madge happily accepted his proposal, but they still have to tell her parents. Lord knows how that could go. Most likely the Undersees will disown Madge and pretend that she's not their beloved daughter when they happen to run into each other in town. It makes me feel sad that such a close family could be pulled apart because of the differences between the Town and the Seam. If Gale was the baker's son, for example, Mayor Undersee would be more than happy to give his consent.
Speaking of the baker's son, Peeta invited us all to dinner at his huge mansion in the Victor's Village to celebrate Madge and Gale's engagement. Vick almost wet himself when he found out, and I can't help but be curious even with all of my problems. Besides the Justice Building, this will be the biggest place I've ever been in.
I roll over and stare out the dusty window next to my side of the bed. The moon is very bright tonight, just a little sliver in the sky. In a month, we'll have a full moon to light up the dirt road.
There are also a lot of stars out tonight, particularly twinkly. Thinking of them makes an old nursery rhyme pop into my head:
Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
And because there's no real reason not to, I pick the brightest star in the sky and wish that all of my troubles would just float away with the wind.
##
About an hour before we're expected at Peeta's house the next day, Gale sets out with a determined look on his face, heading towards the Undersee's mansion. He and Madge decided it would be best for her to break it to her parents gently, and then for Gale to come in when they're confused and choking on their tea. Deep down, I don't think it's a very good plan, but no matter how they tell it, the news will still come as a shocker.
I start to think about how it would be to introduce Tre to my mother and brothers, but thinking of him leaves a guilty feeling that doesn't sit well with me. I just hope that he'll never find out what I do; it would be even worse for him to know than Mom and the boys.
For the occasion, Mom picks out one of her old dresses, a pretty little green one from when Dad was courting her. It's a bit big on me, but it's a lot nicer than anything I have on my own. Right before we're about to go, she ties my hair with an old, faded green ribbon.
We pass by the Mayor's house and wait for a few minutes to see if Madge and Gale are still there, but we don't see anyone sitting by the parlor window, where Gale said he'd be. So we travel down the cobblestone path to the village.
The first thing I notice about the Victor's Village is Haymitch Abernathy's house. He's the only other surviving victor besides Peeta, and a well-known alcoholic. No wonder hardly any of our tributes even make it to the top ten.
Anyway Haymitch's house is the same design as all the others in the tidy circle, but his yard is full of discarded bottles and remnants of moldy bread. Peeta must bring by food every once in a while to make sure Haymitch doesn't starve to death.
I notice Mom staring at his house with disdain, probably thinking up ways to fix it.
The door to Peeta's house is open, and when we step onto the threshold, we can tell something is off. Further down the hall in the living room, we discover the source.
Sitting stiffly on the couch, opposite a very uncomfortable-looking Peeta, are the Mayor and Mrs. Undersee, smiling tightly at us as we walk in. Gale and Madge are sitting on their own loveseat off to the side, looking very awkward, but relieved.
But none of this is what gets me.
Thread is sitting in a chair next to Peeta's, smiling like the cat that ate the canary.
A/N: SUSPENSE! Sorry to leave you hanging here, but I was stuck and had no idea how to continue. Thankfully, I have a clear idea now and all I can say is I think it's never been done before :)
Anyway, don't forget to review!